Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

सौम्यासौम्यैस्तथा शान्ताशान्तैः स्त्रीत्वं च स प्रभुः / बिभेद बहुधा देवः स्वरूपैरसितैः सितैः

Transliteration

saumyāsaumyaistathā śāntāśāntaiḥ strītvaṃ ca sa prabhuḥ / bibheda bahudhā devaḥ svarūpairasitaiḥ sitaiḥ

Translation

ସେ ପରମ ପ୍ରଭୁ ଦେବ ନିଜକୁ ବହୁ ପ୍ରକାରେ ବିଭକ୍ତ କଲେ—ସୌମ୍ୟ ଓ ଅସୌମ୍ୟ, ଶାନ୍ତ ଓ ଅଶାନ୍ତ, ଏବଂ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀଭାବରେ ମଧ୍ୟ; ଶ୍ୟାମ ଓ ଶ୍ୱେତ ରୂପରେ ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• सौम्य: gentle, auspicious
• सौम्य: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• असौम्यैः: not gentle, harsh
• असौम्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शान्तैः: peaceful, calm
• शान्तैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• अशान्तैः: unpeaceful, turbulent
• अशान्तैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• स्त्रीत्वम्: womanhood, femininity
• स्त्रीत्वम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; pronoun nominative singular

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular

• बिभेद: divided, differentiated
• बिभेद: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular; apposition to प्रभुः

• स्वरूपैः: by forms, by natures
• स्वरूपैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• असितैः: dark, black
• असितैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण (to स्वरूपैः)

• सितैः: white, bright
• सितैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण (to स्वरूपैः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking within the Ishvara Gita teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Deva (the Divine)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Supreme as one Lord who remains singular yet appears as many contrasting modes (gentle/fierce, peaceful/agitated), indicating that multiplicity is a manifested play of one Ishvara rather than a second independent reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports an Ishvara-centered meditation (īśvara-dhyāna) where the practitioner learns to recognize all guṇic contrasts and divine iconographic forms as expressions of the one Lord—an orientation consistent with Pāśupata-style devotion joined to inner discernment.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By teaching a single प्रभुः (Lord) who manifests in peaceful and fierce modes, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the same Supreme is praised through Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava forms without contradiction.